Elderly Neglect Research Paper

Steinmets in 1978 was the first to introduce the idea of elderly abuse and neglect. Although, like with child maltreatment it did exist before then, a series of studies brought it to official attention that it was a problem that needed to be dealt with. Tensions between generations have always been high and have ended in various forms of neglect and abuse. Studies show that in pre-modern Western society arguments over rights of property between children and their parents often ended in physical conflict and sometimes even death. In pre-industrial America, elders often used economic stability and power over their children to control their actions as adults, which lead to strained relationships. Due to these issues children often despised their …show more content…
Neglect is considered passive while abuse is considered active. Some definitions call for the perpetrator to act with intent to neglect or abuse, while others assume that the victim must depend on the perpetrator for physical or mental care. The National Research Council (2003:40) states that “Elder Mistreatment” … refers to “A) The intentional actions that cause harm or create a serious risk of harm (whether or not harm is intended) to a vulnerable elder by a caregiver or other person who stands in a trusted relationship to the elder or B) the failure to protect the elder from harm. Although neither of the two definitions account for self-harm or that the perpetrator may be dependent on the victim and commits the acts as a way of exerting …show more content…
For the caregivers who have had to be removed from a home, because they are suspected of abuse should be put on probation with the company they work for, meaning if they are found guilty they will be removed from the company and have it put on their work record that they were released for abuse of the elderly, and the law. These caregivers should also have to work community service, approximately 10 hours for every offense that they are found guilty for. Multiple offenses could include they refused to give the patient their medicine on time, they don’t clean the patient (meaning feces and other bodily waste was left on the patient if that patient has to have help using the restroom etc.), they do not feed the patient/ they keep necessities for life away from the patient and do not allow them to have food or water. This would result in 30 hours of community service, and if found guilty would terminate their job and could land them in jail time for a month or two depending on the severity of the elders health, due to not being cared for